Purification of Mind and Soul in Islam

As it’s a known fact that heart is the most important part of a person as it depicts the “inner self” of the person. In the language of Quran, the inner self is better termed as “Qalb” or the “Heart”. What is more important to any Muslim is the sight of Allah in the state of our heart. What will finally save us on the Day of Judgement is our pure heart. Therefore, it is said that heart is playing an important role in any one’s life and it has an amazing position in Islam.

In the Islam religion, improving on one’s character has always been kept on priority. According to the words of Prophet, “Nothing is heavier on the believer’s scale on the Day of Judgement than good character” (Tirmidhi). As per the above saying, we can conclude that on the judgment day a person’s good character and divine heart will matter the most. In another Hadith ‘Abu Huraira’ the messenger of God said: “Allah does not look at your figures or your attire but he looks at your hearts and accomplishments.”

Therefore, it’s always suggested to focus deliberately every day on improving the state of heart helps in gaining the good character which helps in increasing the overall productiveness. Below mentioned are some tips from holy Quran and Sunnah which helps in making your heart purer and soul more divine.

• Concentrate on your Inner thoughts: In your inner thoughts keep Allah Almighty so close to your mind is known to Allah (SWT).May it be good or bad though, it’s well known to Allah Almighty. In the holy Quran, it is said: “And we have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him and we are closer to him than (his) jugular vein” (Quran 50:16). Whenever you are feeling accountable to Allah for our inner thoughts, we desperately judge the matter with our understanding. We should always pay attention to our inner thoughts which helps in inspecting different aspects of life and things about which we are focussing. As we do this, we are surely working towards increasing our productivity, happiness and mentality comfort.
• Start with Repentance: Sins and restrictions that restrain the chances to do the good work begin with the journey of purifying heart and soul with our genuine repentance. In Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says “Allah loves those who constantly repent” (Quran, 2:222). We can attain Allah’s blessings and love while you are repenting. Our dear Prophet (SAW) said that: “The best of creation, would seek repentance over 70 times a day; repentance from a sin reduces its sweetness – it discourages you from doing it again.”
• Increase the acts of Kindness: When are trying to focus on our own mistakes rather than other tasks, then we are becoming more aware towards our deeds. Once we are purifying our heart we are adding much good and beautiful things to our heart. Allah Almighty states in holy Quran, “Take from their wealth a charity by charity by which you cleanse them and purifying them, and invoke blessings upon them.” (Quran 92:103). When we are discussing on Charity that does not only means giving wealth but it also includes how much time you are giving to people, your effort and even a smile or a kind word.
• Always Offer Obligatory Prayers: Performing obligatory prayers is the most obvious act that should be done on an everyday basis. Better actions are originated from better states. If you are striving to keep up your prayers, just take a look at spiritual causes and that may be hindering your access in gaining the blessing from Allah. Actions are always based on the personal intentions. Allah says in Quran, “He has succeeded who purifies himself, who remembers the name of his Lord and prays.” (Quran 87:14-15)
• Always Read Quran Daily: Make a routine to read the Quran daily, no matter its one page or few pages or even if you read easily the one after other the obligatory prayers daily. Allah Almighty said in Quran, “Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” (Quran 13:28). Reading Quran daily is the highest form of Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah).

In a nutshell, we can say that to attain the high level of productivity, our heart should be light and beautiful. For purifying the soul and heart the above-mentioned points should be followed. Ameen!!

The Power of My Dua.

The question that comes to our mind always is that “What’s happening to my Dua?” But have we ever realized where the fault lies? Allah the Almighty is always there for us. He is always waiting to ask our concerns to fulfill it. But are we worthy of it? The answer for all these points is yes, for maximum people. It’s a great feeling when we see how great Dua is. In one of the Hadith which is recited by Abu Hurayrah, the prophet stated, “In the court of Allah, there is nothing greater than Dua”.

There are certain benefits of making Dua, and they are as under:

• The Loss of Arrogance: Someone who is frequently making Dua, arrogance is something which will just vanish from their characteristics because when one preaches Allah, he is assuring his powerlessness.

• The fulfillment of Dua: As your Dua gets fulfilled your faith becomes deeper. For the people who sometimes see that their Duas are not being answered, then either they have a option that their Dua will be accepted in the later part of their life or the option that the Dua will be accepted by another medium as one of the Hadith stated, Jabir narrates from the Prophet, “Whoever does duaa to Allah, Allah fulfils his seeking or in exchange averts misfortune until the dua is not related to sin or breaking some relation.”

• Dua has the power to change the destiny (only the minor Qadr- not major ones such as the signs of the Day of Judgement) – Salman Farsi recited what Prophet has said, “Dua turns away destiny and good deeds lengthen age.”

• The doors of mercy are opened: The divine words of Prophet are narrated by Abdullah bin Umar, “For whomever, the door of Dua opened, for him the door of mercy is also opened.”

There are some things that should be kept in mind before making the Dua:

• Prophet once said, “Dua is Ibadah.” Since the type of worship is performed by almost everyone. This is even to the extent that the Prophet said, “Allah is extremely displeased with the person who does not do duaa to Allah.”

• As mentioned before, Dua is mandatory. But, nowadays we only perform Duas when we have a need and considers it as the last resort if everything else gets failed. Prophet said, “Whosoever desires that Allah answers his Duas in unfavorable and difficult conditions, he should make plentiful Duain days of ease and comfort.”

• Try and make Dua for others as if you do so, the same thing may happen to you also.

• After completing the conviction with Allah will accept the Dua as if you don’t do it there is a high chance of not getting accepted. Prophet said, “Oh Allah! Forgive me if you want”, Have mercy on me if you want”, “Give me subsistence if you wish”.

• The best times to offer Dua is when you are observing Sujood, which refers to the time between Adhan and Iqamah as indicated in the Hadith.

May the points mentioned above strengthen your Dua and may it benefit you in several ways. 

Get to know about Islamic Religion and their Believe

Question: What is Islam and what do the followers of Islam believe in?

Answer: Islam is a religious system that started in the seventh century by Muhammad. The followers of Islamic religion is known as Muslims, and they follow the teachings of Quran and strives to keep the five pillars of Islam.

Evolution of Islamic Religion

In the seventh century, Muhammad declared that angel Gabriel came to him. Meanwhile, at this angelic visitation which continued for 23 years until Muhammad’s death the angel confessed to Muhammad the words of Allah which is the name of ‘God’ usually taken by Muslims. The word Muslim means “One who submits themselves to Allah” and the word Islam means “submission” and is derived from the root which means “peace.”

Five Pillars of Islam

Five faith pillars compose the base of the obedience to Islamic religion:

• The testimony of faith (Shahada): “la ilaha illa allah. Muhammad rasul Allah.”This quotation means “There is no diety but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” The Shahada shows that a Muslim believes that Allah alone as the diety and relies on Muhammad reveals Allah.
• Prayer (Salat): Five constant prayers must be offered on a daily basis.
• Giving (Zakat): This is the charity where a certain percentage of the salary is donated annually.
• Fasting (Sawm): Muslims keeps fast in Ramadan month which is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. In this month, they should not eat or drink from dawn till dusk.
• Pilgrimage (Hajj): If it is possible financially or physically, Muslim must make the pilgrimage to Mecca which is located in Saudi Arabia at least once in their lifetime. Along with this, Hajj should be performed in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.

Doctrine of Islam

Muslims outlines the principles of faith in six articles:

• Belief in one Allah: In the Islamic religion, Muslims believes that Allah is one, eternal, creator and sovereign.
• Belief in Angels.
• Belief in the prophets: The prophets include the biblical prophets, but it closes with the Muhammad as Allah’s final prophet.
• Belief in the discovery of Allah: The followers of Islamic religion accepts substantial portions of Bible such as Torah and Gospels. They also admit that Quran is pre-existence, perfect word of Allah.
• Should have faith in the last day of judgment and hereafter: Every Islamic follower will be revived for the judgment day and will be sent to paradise or hell.
• Belief in predestination: Muslims believe Allah has imposed everything that will happen in the future. Muslims testifies the sovereignty of Allah with a frequently used phrase “Inshallah” which means “If God Wills.”

Muslims also believes that after death paradise is earned through keeping the five pillars of Islam. The Bible, in contrast, discovers the sinful man can never calculate up to the holy God. Only by God’s grace may sinners be saved through the faith in Jesus.

In Ramadan month, Muslims fasts from dawn to dusk, and there are several apps available which assist Muslims in better ways. One of the most liked apps is Muslim Athan which is best for getting the accurate prayer time, Qibla finder, Islamic calendar and Mosque finder. Download the app for Free: https://goo.gl/jvPca6

How does Muslims offer Daily Prayers?

For performing daily prayers, Muslims bow down to Allah for five times a day. If you are new to learning how to offer Islamic prayers or you are just curious about knowing the procedure of Islamic prayers, then there are basic guidelines for it. For knowing the specific guidelines, there are many such prayers tutorials which are available online and helps in knowing the process of how it is done.

Performing a formal personal prayer can be done during the window of time between the start of one daily prayer and the start of the following scheduled prayer. If you are not familiar with the Arabic language, then you must learn the meanings of the prayer in your native language while you are practicing it in the Arabic language. If possible, it will be much better to pray with other Muslims, and it can help in learning the meaning in a better way.

Pure devotion, full attention, and heartfelt intention are very much necessary for conducting the Muslim prayer. One should offer prayer with clean bloody, and for performing the prayer, the place should be clean and hygienic. Although carrying a rug is optional but while traveling many of them carry one with them.

The procedure of offering proper Islamic prayers

• Just be sure that your body and place of offering the prayer should be clean. If necessary also perform ablutions and sanitize yourself from dirt and other impurities. Talking about mental intention always offer prayer with clean with sincerity and devotion.
• At the standing posture, raise your hands up in the air and chant “Allahu Akbar” which means “God is Great.”
• Still, in a standing posture, fold your hands above your chest and recite the first chapter of Quran in the Arabic language. After this, you can recite any other version if Quran that speaks to you.
• Next raise your hands up again and chat “Allahu Akbar” once more. Bow down and recite “Subhana rabbiyal adheem” for three times which means “Glory be to my Lord Almighty.”
• After doing this, rise to a standing position and then recite “Sam’i Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd” which means “God hears those who call upon him; Our Lord, praise be to you.”
• Next rise to a sitting position and chant “Allahu Akbar.” Make yourself again in same way.
• Get up to a standing position and chant “Allahu Akbar” and this completes one rak’a (once cycle of prayer). Again start from step 3 for the second rak’a.
• After complete two rak’as (step 1 to 8), keep yourself sitting after the prostration and recite the first part of Tashahhud in the Arabic language.
• If you have the prayer is too long than two rak’as then you now stand up and begin again to conclude the prayer, sitting again after all the rak’as have been done.
• Chant the second part of Tashahhud in the Arabic language.
• Rise and turn right and say “Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah” (Peace be upon you and God’s blessings).
• Turn to the left side again and repeat the greeting. This concludes the formal prayer.

The above-mentioned points are the procedure to offer Islamic prayer. Several apps are available on play store which helps in finding the accurate prayer timings, Qibla direction, mosque finder and Islamic dates as per the Georgian calendar. Muslim Athan app is one of them which is known to be the best app assist you with all the Muslim prayers. Download it free: https://goo.gl/jvPca6